Anti-polluting filling and vapor recovery system

ABSTRACT

A filling and vapor recovery system, adapted for use during the filling of underground gasoline storage tanks, comprises concentric conduits extending downwardly from ground level to communicate with the tank&#39;&#39;s chamber. The inner conduit is a fill tube terminating at its upper, inlet end at a removable fill cap and defines a cylindrical vapor passage with the outer conduit. The upper end of the outer conduit has a tee-fitting attached thereto having a check valve mounted at its outlet. When the tank is filled with gasoline from a delivery truck, through the fill tube, the outlet of the fitting is attached to a return hose which automatically opens the valve to communicate gasoline vapors to the truck from the tank.

United States Patent [19] Madden Nov. 6, 1973 [541 ANTI-POLLUTING FILLING AND VAPOR RECOVERY SYSTEM [76] Inventor: Michael J. Madden, Long Beach,

Calif.

[22] Filed: Jan. 26, 1972 {21] Appl. No.: 220,867

[52] U.S. Cl 141/59, 222/64, 285/153 [51] Int. Cl B651) 31/00 [58} Field of Search 141/299, 84, 98, 141/18, 39,59,285/153, 154, 155, 150; 222/64 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,604,594 9/1971 Mamaroneck 222/64 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 8,670 9/1867 France 141/299 Primary Examiner-Houston S. Bell, Jr. Attorney-Paul S. Lempio et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A filling and vapor recovery system, adapted for use during the filling of underground gasoline storage tanks, comprises concentric conduits extending downwardly from ground level to communicate with the tanks chamber. The inner conduit is a fill tube terminating at its upper, inlet end at a removable fill cap and defines a cylindrical vapor passage with the outer conduit. The upper end of the outer conduit has a teefitting attached thereto having a check valve mounted at its outlet. When the tank is filled with gasoline from a delivery truck, through the fill tube, the outlet of the fitting is attached to a return hose which automatically opens the valve to communicate gasoline vapors to the truck from the tank.

11 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures ANTI-POLLUTING FILLING AND VAPOR RECOVERY SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Underground gasoline storage tanks, such as those used at gasoline service stations, are normally provided with a vent for exhausting accumulated gasoline vapors to ambient. Such vapors are particularly prevalent when the tank is filled. In addition to substantially increasing installation and maintenance costs, the vents pollute the atmosphere and constitute potential fire hazards. Suggestions have been made to return the accumulated gasoline vapors directly back to a delivery truck during filling. However, an economical and practicable means for expeditiously accomplishing the same has not been conceived prior to the advent of this invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The filling and vapor recovery system of this invention overcomes the above, briefly described problems by providing an economical means for expeditiously filling an underground gasoline storage tank without discharging accumulated gasoline vapors to atmosphere.

The system comprises an inner or fill conduit and a concentric outer conduit defining an annular passage with the fill conduit. A fitting is attached to the upper end of the outer conduit, close to ground level, and terminates at an outlet having a check valve mounted therein. During a filling operation, the fill hose of a delivery truck is attached to the inner conduit to fill the tank with gasoline and a vapor recovery hose is attached to the outlet of the fitting to automatically open the valve to permit gasoline vapors, accumulated in the tank, to return to the delivery truck. When gasoline is pumped out of the tank during normal filling station operation, the check valve further functions as an air replenishing means in the preferred embodiment of this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects of this invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings wherein: 3

' FIG. 1 is a side elevational view schematicallyillustrating a filling and vapor'recovery system embodiment of this invention in use during the filling of an underground storage tank with gasoline;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, sectional view of the filling and vapor recovery system; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken in the direction of ,arrows III-III in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 illustrates an underground storage tank having its cylindrical chamber 11 being filled with gasoline 12 from the tank of a mobile delivery truck 13. The truck comprises a flexible fill hose l4 and a vapor recovery hose 15 having quick disconnect couplings 16 and 17, respectively, attached to a filling and vapor recovery system 18 of this invention.

The system comprises an inner fill conduit, such as a thin walled aluminum tube 19, disposed concentrically within an outer conduit, such as a heavy duty steel pipe 20. The pipe has a substantially greater wall thickness than that of the tube to increase the structural rigidity of the system and to provide a protective shield for the tube. The fill tube extends downwardly in close proximity to the bottom of tank 10 whereas the outer pipe is secured to the top of the tank to define an annular first passage 21 with the tube. The passage terminates at a lower, inlet end in communication with an upper portion of chamber 11.

The system may be secured on a concrete slab 22 defining a rectangular basin or manhole 23 therein. A protective cover (not shown) is .normally placed thereon at ground level. The manhole is suitably constructed for water drainage to prevent the ingress of such water into passage 21.

Referring to FIG. 2, system 18 further comprises a tee-joint connection 24 threadably attached to the upper end of pipe 20. The joint defines an enlarged chamber 25 extending substantially circumferentially (e.g., 300) about inner pipe 19 at the juncture of first passage 21 and a continuing second passage 26. The second passage terminates at an outlet 27 positioned adjacent to the inlet to tube 19. A fitting 28 is threadably attached at such outlet and defines a plurality of radially disposed ports 29 therethrough (FIG. 3).

The stem of a check valve means 30 is reciprocally mounted in fitting 28 and is lightly biased upwardly (e.g., 2-- 10 02s.) by a coil spring 31. An annular O-ring seal of the valve normally seats on an annular flange 32, formed on an adapter 33 threadably attached to fitting 28. An annular recess 34 is formed around adapter 33 to adapt it for attachment to quick disconnect coupling 17, in a manner similar to that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,473,569.

A removable protective cap 35 may be threadably attached to member 33 and has a plurality of radially disposed ports 36 formed therethrough for purposes hereinafter more fully explained. A removable protective cap 37 is also preferably threadably attached to a neck portion 38 of the tee-joint to have an annular seal .attachment to compatible coupling 16 (FIG. 1).

Prior to the tank filling operation, caps 35 and 37 would be removed and replaced by quick disconnect couplings l7and 16, respectively. Coupling 17 would attach itself at annular groove 34 of member 33 and simultaneously depress valve 30 to permit tank chamber 11 to freely communicate with line 15. During filling of the tank via hose 14 andtube l9, accumulated gasoline vapors would be automatically vented upwardly through annular passage 21, chamber 25, passage 26, ports 29, valve 30 and line 15 and into the tank of truck 13. Y

Hose 15 preferably communicates with a tube (not shown) located within the tank of the delivery truck which discharges the gaseous vapors above the level of the gasoline, adjacent to the top of such tank. Ingress of gasoline into inlet 27 is thus prevented. Upon substantial filling of tank 10, lines 14 and 15 would be disconnected and replaced by caps 37 and 35, respectively.

When gasoline is pumped out of tank 10 during normal station operation, the air pressure in chamber 11 will normally tend to decrease and adversely affect such filling. In accordance with this invention, when the air pressure level in chamber 11 drops below a predetermined minimum level, such as 14.0 psi, valve 30 automatically opens under the light biasing action of spring 31 to permit the ingress of ambient air (at 14.7 psi, for example) to tank chamber 11 via ports 36, open valve 30, ports 29, passage 26, chamber 25, and annular passage 21.

When the air pressure in chamber 11 reaches a predetermined maximum level (e.g., 14.7 psi), as sensed at the inlet to passage 21, valve 30 will automatically close and such sequence will be thereafter repeated when the capacity of the tank again lowers a sufficient amount to reopen the valve. It should be noted that the outlet of second passage 26 has a cross sectional area substantially less than the cross sectional area of the inlet to tube 19 to prevent the inadvertent mis-match of hoses 14 and 15 thereon.

H6. 1 further illustrates an electrically actuated pump 42 operatively connected to a conventional pressure sensitive switch 43 mounted within chamber 11 of tank 10. The pump is adapted to pump gasoline 12 from inlet conduit 44 to an outlet conduit 45 connected to a dispenser (not shown) during normal service station operation. The switch functions as a sensing means to constantly sense the pressure in chamber 11 and to automatically deactivate the switching circuit (not shown) of pump 42 when the pressure in the chamber falls below a predetermined level (e.g., 12 psi).

Such deactivation of the pump will indicate to the station operator that a malfunction has occurred in the system; particularly the inability of valve means to open. For example, in severe northern climates, ice may accumulate around the valve means to prevent the automatic opening thereof. Upon cleaning thereof, the system will be returned to normal operation.

What is claimed is:

l. A combined filling, venting and dispensing system in combination with a gasoline storage tank defining a chamber therein, said system comprising an inner conduit having an inlet and extending downwardly into said tank to terminate at an outlet positioned adjacent to a bottom of said chamber,

an outer conduit extending downwardly to said tank in surrounding relationship with said inner conduit to define an annular first passage therebetween communicating with an upper portion of said chamber at its lower, inlet end,

a joint connection, attached to upper ends of both said inner and outer conduits, having means defining a second passage communicating with said first passage, said second passage terminating at an outlet positioned adjacent to the inlet to said inner conduit and check valve means for normally closing the outlet of said second passage and for opening automatically under ambient pressure when gas pressure in said chamber, as sensed at the inlet to said first passage, falls below a predetermined level during dispensing of gasoline from said storage tank and said check valve means being openable for venting said storage tank during filling thereof via said first passage means.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said valve means is slidably mounted in said joint connection and comprises an annular seal normally seated on an annular flange.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said annular flange is formed on an adapter removably attached to said joint connection, said adapter further comprising an annular recess formed therearound adapted for attachment to a quick disconnect coupling.'

4. The invention of claim 3 further comprising an annular fitting attached on said joint connection, the stem of said valve means reciprocally mounted in said fitting and said adapter removably attached to said fitting.

5. The invention of claim 1 further comprising a removable cap normally closing the outlet of said second passage.

6. The invention of claim 1 wherein said joint connection further comprises means defining an enlarged chamber therein, substantially circumferentially about said inner conduit, at the juncture of said first and sec ond passages.

7. The invention of claim 1 wherein the inlet to said inner conduit has a radial flange formed thereon and secured to a neck portion of said joint connection, and further comprising a removable cap normally attached to said neck portion to normally close the inlet to said inner conduit.

8. The invention of claim 1 wherein the outlet of said second passage has a cross sectional area substantially less than the cross sectional area of the inlet to said inner pipe.

9. The invention of claim 1 wherein said inner conduit comprises a thin-walled tube and said outer conduit comprises a heavy duty pipe having a substantially greater wall thickness than that of said tube.

10. The invention of claim 1 further comprising means, including a pump, for selectively pumping gasoline out of said tank and sensing means operatively connected to said pump for automatically deactivating said pump when the pressure in said chamber falls below a predetermined level.

11. The invention of claim lO wherein said sensing means comprises a pressure sensitive switch mounted in said chamber. 

1. A combined filling, venting and dispensing system in combination with a gasoline storage tank defining a chamber therein, said system comprising an inner conduit having an inlet and extending downwardly into said tank to terminate at an outlet positioned adjacent to a bottom of said chamber, an outer conduit extending downwardly to said tank in surrounding relationship with said inner conduit to define an annular first passage therebetween communicating with an upper portion of said chamber at its lower, inlet end, a joint connection, attached to upper ends of both said inner and outer conduits, having means defining a second passage communicating with said first passage, said second passage terminating at an outlet positioned adjacent to the inlet to said inner conduit and check valve means for normally closing the outlet of said second passage and for opening automatically under ambient pressure when gas pressure in said chamber, as sensed at the inlet to said first passage, falls below a predetermined level during dispensing of gasoline from said storage tank and said check valve means being openable for venting said storage tank during filling thereof via said first passage means.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said valve means is slidably mounted in said joint connection and comprises an annular seal normally seated on an annular flange.
 3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said annular flange is formed on an adapter removably attached to said joint connection, said adapter further comprising an annular recess formed therearound adapted for attachment to a quick disconnect coupling.
 4. The invention of claim 3 further comprising an annular fitting attached on said joint connection, the stem of said valve means reciprocally mounted in said fitting and said adapter removably attached to said fitting.
 5. The invention of claim 1 further comprising a removable cap normally closing the outlet of said second passage.
 6. The invention of claim 1 wherein said joint connection further comprises means defining an enlarged chamber therein, substantially circumferentially about said inner conduit, at the juncture of said first and second passages.
 7. The invention of claim 1 wherein the inlet to said inner conduit has a radial flange formed thereon and secured to a neck portion of said joint connection, and further comprising a removable cap normally attached to said neck portion to normally close the inlet to said inner conduit.
 8. The invention of claim 1 wherein the outlet of said second passage has a cross sectional area substantially less than the cross sectional area of the inlet to said inner pipe.
 9. The invention of claIm 1 wherein said inner conduit comprises a thin-walled tube and said outer conduit comprises a heavy duty pipe having a substantially greater wall thickness than that of said tube.
 10. The invention of claim 1 further comprising means, including a pump, for selectively pumping gasoline out of said tank and sensing means operatively connected to said pump for automatically deactivating said pump when the pressure in said chamber falls below a predetermined level.
 11. The invention of claim 10 wherein said sensing means comprises a pressure sensitive switch mounted in said chamber. 